Compared to the bboyin’ and poppin’ scenes, lockin’ is less visible in the public spotlight. Yet many folks who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s will remember Rerun on What’s Happening? or clips of the Lockers on Soul Train. Historically, we understand lockin’ as being created before poppin’ and bboyin’. It’s the root of our soulful street dance styles so why is it less visible now more than ever? Perhaps it’s because of a void that’s not being filled. While there are documentaries produced by the Lockers, Chain Reaction, and Gemini; there is little representation in the media on the new school generation of lockers. Where are the lockers from Japan, Taiwan, France, and the LA new schoolers?
We see many hip hop choreo teams infusing some basic elements of lockin’ in their routines. But it’s nowhere near the level of dedicated lockers who train in that artform. You have to go to lockin’ contests at How Tha West Was Won or Juste Debout to see the most promising young cats. That’s why we need a lockin’ documentary that captures aspects of today’s scene. The dance form is so exhilarating that it deserves its time to be appreciated by a new public audience. If lockers are featured in a dance documentary, it’s possible that the film could inspire a future generation. Planet BBoy has done that for the newest bboys and bgirls worldwide.
This proposed lockin’ documentary doesn’t have to be the comprehensive film on its history or progression. But it can be a start of a new dialogue bringing current relevancy to the dance. In LA, lockin’ is equally embraced by men and women, often in equal numbers, which is not always the case for bboyin’ and poppin’. We want to see their stories put on film so that the funky soul of this dance is not lost in the past.
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